Put a Little Love in Your Heart
Encyclopedia
"Put a Little Love in Your Heart" is a song originally performed in 1968 by Jackie DeShannon
, who composed it with her brother, Randy Myers, and Jimmy Holiday. In the USA, it was DeShannon's highest-charting hit, reaching #4 on the Hot 100 and #2 on the Adult Contemporary charts. In late 1969, the song reached number one on South Africa's hit parade.
The song rivaled the success of her signature song
, "What the World Needs Now is Love
".
The first six notes of the melody are similar to the intro first six notes of 1967's "Baby, You're a Rich Man" by The Beatles
. In more recent times, the chorus of "Love Machine
" by Girls Aloud
bears an uncanny resemblance.
and Al Green
recorded a version that was released as the ending theme song to the 1988 film Scrooged
. The song reached #9 in the USA on the Hot 100 in January 1989 and climbed all the way to #2 on the US Adult Contemporary chart, as well as becoming a top 40 hit in several countries worldwide. Outside of her Eurythmics
band, it is Lennox's most successful single.
Jackie DeShannon
Jackie DeShannon is an American singer-songwriter with a string of hit song credits from the 1960s onwards. She was one of the first female singer-songwriters of the rock 'n' roll period.- Life and early career :...
, who composed it with her brother, Randy Myers, and Jimmy Holiday. In the USA, it was DeShannon's highest-charting hit, reaching #4 on the Hot 100 and #2 on the Adult Contemporary charts. In late 1969, the song reached number one on South Africa's hit parade.
The song rivaled the success of her signature song
Signature song
A signature song is the one song that a popular and well-established singer or band is most closely identified with or best known for, even if they have had success with a variety of songs...
, "What the World Needs Now is Love
What the World Needs Now Is Love
"What the World Needs Now Is Love" is a 1965 popular song with lyrics by Hal David and music composed by Burt Bacharach. First recorded and made popular by Jackie DeShannon, it was released on April 15, 1965, on the Imperial label after a release on sister label Liberty records the previous month...
".
The first six notes of the melody are similar to the intro first six notes of 1967's "Baby, You're a Rich Man" by The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
. In more recent times, the chorus of "Love Machine
Love Machine (Girls Aloud song)
"Love Machine" is a song performed by British all-female pop group Girls Aloud, taken from their second studio album What Will the Neighbours Say? . The song was written by Miranda Cooper, Brian Higgins and his production team Xenomania, and produced by Higgins and Xenomania...
" by Girls Aloud
Girls Aloud
Girls Aloud are a British and Irish pop girl group based in London. They were created through the ITV1 talent show Popstars The Rivals in 2002. The group consists of Cheryl Cole , Nadine Coyle, Sarah Harding, Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh. They are signed to Fascination Records, a Polydor...
bears an uncanny resemblance.
Charts
| Chart (1968) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canadian Singles Chart | 12 |
| South African Singles Chart | 1 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... Chart |
4 |
| U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks The Adult Contemporary chart is a weekly chart published in Billboard magazine that lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary and "lite-pop" radio stations in the United States... |
2 |
Annie Lennox & Al Green version
In 1988 Annie LennoxAnnie Lennox
Annie Lennox, OBE , born Ann Lennox, is a Scottish singer-songwriter, political activist and philanthropist. After achieving minor success in the late 1970s with The Tourists, with fellow musician David A...
and Al Green
Al Green
Albert Greene , better known as Al Green, is an American gospel and soul music singer. He reached the peak of his popularity in the 1970s, with hit singles such as "You Oughta Be With Me", "I'm Still In Love With You", "Love and Happiness", and "Let's Stay Together"...
recorded a version that was released as the ending theme song to the 1988 film Scrooged
Scrooged
Scrooged is a 1988 American comedy film, a modernization of Charles Dickens' novella, A Christmas Carol. The film was produced and directed by Richard Donner, and the cinematography was by Michael Chapman. The screenplay was written by Mitch Glazer and Michael O'Donoghue...
. The song reached #9 in the USA on the Hot 100 in January 1989 and climbed all the way to #2 on the US Adult Contemporary chart, as well as becoming a top 40 hit in several countries worldwide. Outside of her Eurythmics
Eurythmics
Eurythmics were a British pop rock duo, formed in 1980, currently disbanded, but known to reunite from time to time. Consisting of members Annie Lennox and David A...
band, it is Lennox's most successful single.
Charts
| Chart (1988) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Austrian Singles Chart | 4 |
| Australian Singles Chart | 6 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... Chart |
9 |
| Swiss Singles Chart | 11 |
| German Singles Chart | 20 |
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
28 |
| Irish Singles Chart Irish Singles Chart The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured... |
30 |
Other versions
- Ella FitzgeraldElla FitzgeraldElla Jane Fitzgerald , also known as the "First Lady of Song" and "Lady Ella," was an American jazz and song vocalist...
, the beloved "First Lady of Song", recorded this on her live album "Ella A NiceElla à NiceElla à Nice is a 1972 live album by the American jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald, accompanied by a jazz trio led by the pianist Tommy Flanagan...
". - Susan RayeSusan RayeSusan Raye is an American country music singer. She enjoyed great popularity during the early and mid 1970's and chalked up seven top 10 and nineteen top 40 country hits Susan Raye discography, most notably the song "L.A...
covered the song her debut 1969 album, One Night Stand. The song was released as a single and peaked at #30 on the Billboard Hot Country SongsHot Country SongsHot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
chart. - Albertina WalkerAlbertina Walker-Early years:Walker was born in Chicago, Illinois, to Ruben and Camille Coleman Walker. Her mother was born in Houston County, Georgia, and her father in Bibb County, Georgia. They moved to Chicago between 1917-1920 where they lived out their lives. Albertina had four siblings born in Bibb County...
the "Queen of Gospel" recorded a cover of the song along with The CaravansThe CaravansThe Caravans is a Jubilee Gospel group that was started by Albertina Walker . The group reached its peak popularity during the 1950s and 1960s, launching the careers of a number of artists, including: Delores Washington, Albertina Walker, Bessie Griffin, Cassietta George, Dorothy Norwood, Inez...
for her album by the same title in 1972. - The Isley BrothersThe Isley BrothersThe Isley Brothers are a highly influential, successful and long-running American music group consisting of different line-ups of six brothers, and a brother-in-law, Chris Jasper...
on their 1972 album Brother, Brother, BrotherBrother, Brother, BrotherBrother, Brother, Brother is a 1972 rock album released by The Isley Brothers on their T-Neck imprint. It was to be the Isleys' last studio record with Buddah Records moving on to Epic in the middle of 1973...
. - Dolly PartonDolly PartonDolly Rebecca Parton is an American singer-songwriter, author, multi-instrumentalist, actress and philanthropist, best known for her work in country music. Dolly Parton has appeared in movies like 9 to 5, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Steel Magnolias and Straight Talk...
recorded a cover of the song for her album Slow Dancing With the MoonSlow Dancing With the Moon-Production:*Produced By Steve Buckingham & Dolly Parton*Engineers: Gary Paczosa*Assistant Engineers: John Hurley, John Kunz, John David Parker, Craig White*Mixing: Gary Paczosa*Digital Editing: Carlos Grier*Mastering: Denny Purcell-Personnel:...
. - The Dave Clark Five recorded a version in 1968. Issued as a single in the UK, it spent four weeks in the top 75, reaching number 31, three positions below that attained by Annie Lennox and Al Green in 1988.
- Mary MaryMary MaryMary Mary is an American gospel music duo, consisting of sisters Erica Atkins-Campbell and Tina Atkins-Campbell . The duo are often credited along with Kirk Franklin for broadening the fan base of urban contemporary gospel in the 2000s by introducing elements of soul music, hip hop, funk and jazz...
's version was featured in the film Stuart Little 2Stuart Little 2Stuart Little 2 is a 2002 American live action and CGI animated film, directed by Rob Minkoff and starring Geena Davis, Hugh Laurie and Jonathan Lipnicki and the voices of Michael J. Fox, Nathan Lane, Melanie Griffith, James Woods and Steve Zahn. The film is a sequel to the 1999 film and includes...
. - Punk band Circle JerksCircle JerksThe Circle Jerks are an American hardcore punk band, formed in 1980 in Los Angeles, California. It was formed by Black Flag's original singer, Keith Morris, and future Bad Religion guitarist Greg Hetson. They were among the preeminent hardcore punk bands of the L.A. scene in the late 1970s.The band...
covered the song on their second album Wild In The StreetsWild in the Streets (Circle Jerks album)Wild in the Streets is the second album by the hardcore band Circle Jerks. The title track is a cover song of the Garland Jeffreys song of the same name...
. - Marcia Griffths recorded a reggae cover.
- A cover appeared in a 2003 GapGap (clothing retailer)The Gap, Inc. is an American clothing and accessories retailer based in San Francisco, California, and founded in 1969 by Donald G. Fisher and Doris F. Fisher. The company has five primary brands: the namesake Gap banner, Banana Republic, Old Navy, Piperlime and Athleta. As of September 2008,...
television campaign, performed by Al Green, Melissa Etheridge, Kelly Rowland, Stephan Jenkins, Vanessa Carlton, Ginuwine, Musiq, Heather Headley and Gavin DeGraw. - A version is currently being used during the promo for the newest season of TLC's The Little CoupleThe Little CoupleThe Little Couple is an American reality television series featuring Bill Klein and Jennifer Arnold, who both have dwarfism. The series debuted on TLC in 2009. Jen is 3'2" and Bill is 4 feet tall. They live in Houston, Texas, where the series has documented the customized building of their home and...
. - Leonard NimoyLeonard NimoyLeonard Simon Nimoy is an American actor, film director, poet, musician and photographer. Nimoy's most famous role is that of Spock in the original Star Trek series , multiple films, television and video game sequels....
recorded a version. - Wreckless EricWreckless EricWreckless Eric is an English rock and roll/new wave singer-songwriter, best known for his 1977 single " Whole Wide World" on Stiff Records. More than two decades after its release, the song was included in Mojo magazine’s list of the best punk rock singles of all time...
and Amy RigbyAmy RigbyAmy Rigby is an American singer-songwriter. After playing with several New York bands she began a solo career, recording several albums which had only modest sales despite enthusiastic reviews. She settled into a career of touring small venues and private parties while raising a daughter, then...
recorded a version of this song. - LuluLulu (singer)Lulu Kennedy-Cairns, OBE , best known by her stage name Lulu, is a Scottish singer, actress, and television personality who has been successful in the entertainment business from the 1960s through to the present day...
, a Scottish singer-songwriter and actress, recorded a cover of the song in 2005. - The short-lived British funk/gospel band KainosKainos-Company Background:Kainos is a privately held company based in Northern Ireland. Established in 1986, as a joint venture between Fujitsu and The Queen's University of Belfast business incubation unit , Kainos was one of Northern Ireland's first campus companies .Today Kainos has 260 consultants in...
recorded the song on their 1978 albumChanging. After the band spilt, two of its members went on to further fame; organist Bazil Meade founded the London Community Gospel ChoirLondon Community Gospel ChoirThe London Community Gospel Choir is a successful gospel choir located in the United Kingdom.-History:The London Community Gospel Choir was founded in 1982 by the Reverend Bazil Meade with the assistance of Lawrence Johnson, Delroy Powell and John Francis.Initially the idea was for a single concert...
in 1982, and guitarist Joel EdwardsJoel EdwardsJoel Ashley Edwards is an American professional golfer.Edwards was born in Dallas, Texas. He attended North Texas State University and turned professional in 1984....
became the General Secretary of the Evangelical AllianceEvangelical AllianceThe Evangelical Alliance is a London-based charitable organization founded in 1846. It has a claimed representation of over 1,000,000 evangelical Christians in the United Kingdom and is the oldest alliance of evangelical Christians in the world....
in the UK. - David RuffinDavid RuffinDavis Eli "David" Ruffin was an American soul singer and musician most famous for his work as one of the lead singers of the Temptations from 1964 to 1968...
recorded the song during his solo career after he parted ways with the Temptations. - John MayerJohn MayerJohn Clayton Mayer is an American pop rock and blues rock musician, singer-songwriter, recording artist, and music producer. Born in Bridgeport, Connecticut and raised in Fairfield, Connecticut, he attended Berklee College of Music in Boston. He moved to Atlanta in 1997, where he refined his...
covered the song at a holiday benefit for a radio station "WPLJ". - The Great Don GibsonDon GibsonDonald Eugene "Don" Gibson was an American songwriter and country musician. A Country Music Hall of Fame inductee, Gibson penned such country standards as "Sweet Dreams" and "I Can't Stop Loving You", and enjoyed a string of country hits from 1957 into the early 1970s.-Biography:Don Gibson was...
recorded the song on his album, "A Perfect Mountain" Hickory LPS 155.